20230505 The Ten Bodily Transformations Resulting from Separation from Kṛṣṇa

The following is a Śrī Kṛṣṇa Caitanya Book Compilation given by His Holiness Jayapatākā Swami Mahārāja on May 5th,2023 in Dallas, Texas, USA.

mūkaṁ karoti vācālaṁ paṅguṁ laṅghayate girim
yat-kṛpā tam ahaṁ vande śrī-guruṁ dīna-tāraṇam
paramānandaṁ mādhavaṁ śrī caitanya iśvaram

Hariḥ oṁ tat sat!

Today we will continue with the compilation of Śrī Kṛṣṇa Caitanya Book. Today's chapter is entitled as:

The Ten Bodily Transformations Resulting from Separation from Kṛṣṇa
Under the Section: Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu’s Feelings of Separation from Kṛṣṇa

Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Antya-līlā, 14.41

gosvāmipādokta śloka:—

Translation: Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu said, “At first My mind somehow achieved the treasure of Kṛṣṇa, but it again lost Him.

Therefore it gave up My body and home because of lamentation and accepted the religious principles of a kāpālika-yogī.

Then My mind went to Vṛndāvana with its disciples, My senses.”

Purport: This verse is clearly metaphorical.

Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Antya-līlā, 14.42

kṛṣṇasaṅga-vañcita prabhura divyommāda (citrajalpa):—

prāpta-ratna hārāñā, tāra guṇa saṅariyā,
mahāprabhu santāpe vihvala

rāya-svarūpera kaṇṭha dhari’, kahe ’hāhā hari hari’,
dhairya gela, ha-ilā capala

Translation: Having lost His acquired gem, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu became overwhelmed with lamentation by remembering its attributes.

Then, grasping the necks of Rāmānanda Rāya and Svarūpa Dāmodara Gosvāmī, He cried, “Alas, where is My Lord Hari?

Where is Hari?” Finally He became restless and lost all patience.

Jayapatākā Swami: This is describing Lord Caitanya’s feelings of separation from Lord Kṛṣṇa.

Where is my Lord Hari? Where is Hari? This was the feeling Lord Caitanya manifested.

Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Antya-līlā, 14.43

kṛṣṇamādhuryera ākarṣaṇa-śaktira bale daśadaśāprāpti varṇana:—
“śuna, bāndhava, kṛṣṇera mādhurī

yāra lobhe mora mana, chāḍi’ loka-veda-dharma,
yogī hañā ha-ila bhikhārī

Translation: “My dear friends,” He said, “please hear of Kṛṣṇa’s sweetness.

Because of a great desire for that sweetness, My mind has given up all social and Vedic religious principles and taken to the profession of begging, exactly like a mystic yogī.

Jayapatākā Swami: Lord Caitanya, in the mood of Rādhārāṇī was feeling separation from Lord Kṛṣṇa.

Remembering the sweetness of Kṛṣṇa, He wanted that sweetness.

So, when we develop that intense desire for Kṛṣṇa that is called laulyam and that is a qualification for love for Kṛṣṇa.

Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Antya-līlā, 14.44

kṛṣṇa-līlā-maṇḍala, śuddha śaṅkha-kuṇḍala,
gaḍiyāche śuka kārikara

sei kuṇḍala kāṇe pari’, tṛṣṇā-lāu-thālī dhari’,
āśā-jhuli kāndhera upara

Translation: “The ring of Kṛṣṇa’s rāsa-līlā, manufactured by Śukadeva Gosvāmī, the most auspicious craftsman, is as pure as an earring made from a conchshell.

The yogī of My mind is wearing that earring upon his ear.

From a gourd he has carved out the bowl of My aspirations, and he has taken the bag of My expectations on his shoulder.

Jayapatākā Swami: There is some type of yogī that wears earrings of conch.

He carries a bowl made from dry gourd.

So, Lord Caitanya is using this metaphor that He is thinking of the pastime of Kṛṣṇa’s rasa-līlā which is pure and He is wearing it on His ear like this yogī who wears a conch shell earring.

In other words, Lord Caitanya’s mind is completely absorbed in Lord Kṛṣṇa’s pastimes.

Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Antya-līlā, 14.45

cintā, malināṅgatā o pralāpa-daśā:—

cintā-kānthā uḍhi gāya, dhūli-vibhūti-malina-kāya,
‘hāhā kṛṣṇa’ pralāpa-uttara udvega dvādaśa hāte,
lobhera jhulani māthe, bhikṣābhāve kṣīṇa kalevara

Translation: “The yogī of My mind wears the torn quilt of anxiety on his dirty body, which is covered with dust and ashes.

His only words are ‘Alas!

Kṛṣṇa!’ He wears twelve bangles of distress on his wrist and a turban of greed on his head.

Because he has not eaten anything, he is very thin.

Jayapatākā Swami: Lord Caitanya is expressing His desire for Kṛṣṇa with the example of a begging yogī.

That some yogīs go door to door and do mādhukarī begging and they don’t get much for their efforts.

Lord Caitanya is expressing how He was very eager to realize Kṛṣṇa, but He uses this example of a poor yogī begging door to door, and that He is overwhelmed by separation from Lord Kṛṣṇa.

Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Antya-līlā, 14.46

tānava-daśā —

vyāsa, śukādi yogi-gaṇa, kṛṣṇa ātmā nirañjana,
vraje tāṅra yata līlā-gaṇa

bhāgavatādi śāstra-gaṇe, kariyāche varṇane,
sei tarjā paḍe anukṣaṇa

Translation: “The great yogī of My mind always studies the poetry and discussions of Lord Kṛṣṇa’s Vṛndāvana pastimes.

In Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam and other scriptures, great saintly yogīs like Vyāsadeva and Śukadeva Gosvāmī have described Lord Kṛṣṇa as the Supersoul, beyond all material contamination.

Jayapatākā Swami: Lord Caitanya, He is comparing His mind to a great yogī who always reads the poetry and discussions about Lord Kṛṣṇa’s Vṛndāvana pastimes.

He praises Vyāsadeva and Śukadeva Gosvāmī, who have described Kṛṣṇa in a very excellent manner.

Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Antya-līlā, 14.47

unmāda-daśā:—

daśendriye śiṣya kari’, ‘mahā-bāula’ nāma dhari’,
śiṣya lañā karila gamana

mora deha sva-sadana, viṣaya-bhoga mahā-dhana,
saba chāḍi’ gelā vṛndāvana

Translation: “The mystic yogī of My mind has assumed the name Mahābāula and made disciples of My ten senses.

Thus My mind has gone to Vṛndāvana, leaving aside the home of My body and the great treasure of material enjoyment.

Purport: Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu compares His mind to one of the mystic yogīs known as bāulas, who make at least ten disciples.

Jayapatākā Swami: Another meaning of bāula is almost mad.

So, Lord Caitanya is addressing how He has become mad after Kṛṣṇa and that His mind has simply gone to Vṛndāvana where Kṛṣṇa’s pastimes are generally being revised.

And as a result He has given up the desire of material enjoyment in trying to enjoy the body.

He is simply fixed on serving Kṛṣṇa.

Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Antya-līlā, 14.48

vṛndāvane prajā-gaṇa, yata sthāvara-jaṅgama,
vṛkṣa-latā gṛhastha-āśrame

tāra ghare bhikṣāṭana, phala-mūla-patrāśana,
ei vṛtti kare śiṣya-sane

Translation: “In Vṛndāvana, he goes from door to door begging alms with all his disciples.

He begs from both the moving and the inert inhabitants — the citizens, the trees and the creepers.

In this way he lives on fruits, roots and leaves.

Jayapatākā Swami: So, He uses the example of bāulas who have ten disciples and He is going with His material senses.

But He is completely absorbed in Kṛṣṇa and begs from everyone, the citizens, trees, creepers, and in this way, He is simply living on the roots, fruits and leaves.

I mean, He is oblivious to material enjoyment and He is just focused on Kṛṣṇa.

Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Antya-līlā, 14.49

kṛṣṇa-guṇa-rūpa-rasa, gandha, śabda, paraśa,
se sudhā āsvāde gopī-gaṇa

tā-sabāra grāsa-śeṣe, āni’ pañcendriya śiṣye,
se bhikṣāya rākhena jīvana

Translation: “The gopīs of Vrajabhūmi always taste the nectar of Kṛṣṇa’s attributes, His beauty, His sweetness, His aroma, the sound of His flute and the touch of His body.

My mind’s five disciples, the senses of perception, gather the remnants of that nectar from the gopīs and bring them to the yogī of My mind.

The senses maintain their lives by eating those remnants.

Jayapatākā Swami: Lord Caitanya is appreciating how the gopīs of Vṛndāvana appreciate Kṛṣṇa’s personal activities.

And He is begging just to get some remnants and in that way His mind is satisfied with the remnants of Kṛṣṇa’s attributes.

Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Antya-līlā, 14.50

jāgara daśā:—

śūnya-kuñja-maṇḍapa-koṇe, yogābhyāsa kṛṣṇa-dhyāne,
tāhāṅ rahe lañā śiṣya-gaṇa

kṛṣṇa ātmā nirañjana, sākṣāt dekhite mana,
dhyāne rātri kare jāgaraṇa

Translation: “There is a solitary garden where Kṛṣṇa enjoys His pastimes, and in one corner of a pavilion in that garden, the yogī of My mind, along with his disciples, practices mystic yoga.

Wanting to see Kṛṣṇa directly, this yogī remains awake throughout the night, meditating on Kṛṣṇa, who is the Supersoul, uncontaminated by the three modes of nature.

Jayapatākā Swami: So, Kṛṣṇa is performing His pastimes in this garden and Lord Caitanya compares His mind to a yogī who wants to see these pastimes of Kṛṣṇa.

So Kṛṣṇa is transcendental to this material world, transcendental to the three modes of nature and Lord Caitanya is simply eager to see that Supreme Personality of Godhead.

Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Antya-līlā, 14.51

vyādhi, moha o mṛtyu (pralaya)-daśā; citrajalpa:—

mana kṛṣṇa-viyogī, duḥkhe mana haila yogī,
se viyoge daśa daśā haya

se daśāya vyākula hañā, mana gela palāñā,
śūnya mora śarīra ālaya”

Translation: “When My mind lost the association of Kṛṣṇa and could no longer see Him, he became depressed and took up mystic yoga.

In the void of separation from Kṛṣṇa, he experienced ten transcendental transformations.

Agitated by these transformations, My mind fled, leaving My body, his place of residence, empty.

Thus I am completely in trance.”

Purport by Śrīla Prabhupāda: In this verse, the outward activities of the kāpālika mendicants have been described, but not their actual life.The kāpālika mendicants are tantric materialists who carry skulls in their hands. They are not Vaiṣṇavas and have nothing to do with spiritual life; therefore they are untouchable. Only an outward comparison has been made between the mind and their activities, but their behavior should never be imitated.

Jayapatākā Swami: Lord Caitanya is using this example, but it is just figurative.

And by His manifestation of love for Kṛṣṇa He is experiencing all the ecstatic symptoms which are beyond the mind to understand and experiencing those transcendental emotions, it is as if the mind has left His body and the body is no longer there as a residence for the mind.

In other words, He had become completely overwhelmed in separation of Kṛṣṇa.

Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Antya-līlā, 14.52

kṛṣṇavicchede proṣitabharttṛkā gopīra daśadaśāyukta kṛṣṇavirahī prabhu:—

kṛṣṇera viyoge gopīra daśa daśā haya
sei daśa daśā haya prabhura udaya

Translation: When the gopīs felt separation from Kṛṣṇa, they experienced ten kinds of bodily transformations.

These same symptoms appeared in the body of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu.

Jayapatākā Swami: Rukmiṇī challenged Kṛṣṇa that, “There is one thing You don’t know, Rādhārāṇī knows I know,but You dot know!” He said, “What is that?” “How much Your devotees love You and in what way we love You.” He said, “He would come in Kali-yuga as His devotee.”

So, Lord Caitanya is experiencing this ecstatic separation that the gopīs had for Kṛṣṇa.

So, the secret is how much and in what way the devotees of Kṛṣṇa feel love for Kṛṣṇa.

Translation: “The ten bodily transformations resulting from separation from Kṛṣṇa are anxiety,wakefulness, mental agitation, thinness, uncleanliness, talking like a madman, disease, madness, illusion and death.”

Purport: This verse is part of a description of Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī’s different traits from Ujjvala-nīlamaṇi (Vipralambha-prakaraṇa 153), by Śrīla Rūpa Gosvāmī.

In this book, he elaborately explains the ten symptoms as follows.

1. Cintā, anxiety. As stated in the Haṁsa-dūta (2):

“At Akrūra’s request, Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma left the house of Nanda Mahārāja for Mathurā.

At that time the mind of Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī was disrupted, and She became almost mad because of extreme separation from Kṛṣṇa.

She experienced great mental pain and agitation, which caused Her to drown in mental speculation in the river of anxiety.

She thought, ‘Now I am going to die, and when I die, Kṛṣṇa will surely come back to see Me again.

But when He hears of My death from the people of Vṛndāvana, He will certainly be very unhappy.

Therefore I shall not die.’” This is the explanation of the word cintā.

Jayapatākā Swami: When one hears these ecstatic symptoms, may think this is suffering but actually the separation of Kṛṣṇa is external sense seems suffering but actually these are transcendental emotions and one would rather experience these than anything else

2. Jāgara, wakefulness.

As stated in the Padyāvalī (326):

Thinking Herself very unfortunate, Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī addressed Her very dear friend Viśākhā, “My dear friend, if I could see Kṛṣṇa in My dreams, I would certainly be glorified for My great fortune.

But what can I do? Sleep also plays mischievously with Me.

Indeed, it has become My enemy.

Therefore I have not slept since the departure of Kṛṣṇa.”

Jayapatākā Swami: Rādhārāṇī would like to have a dream of Kṛṣṇa, but in Her separation, She can’t sleep, that means She can’t dream!

3. Udvega, mental agitation.

This word is explained in the Haṁsa-dūta (104) as follows:

Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī addressed Lalitā, “My dear beautiful-faced Lalitā, I cannot express how My heart is burning.

It is a great, unfathomable ocean of anxiety.

Still, I wish to offer My obeisances at your lotus feet.

What shall I do?

Please consider My condition and advise Me how I can become peaceful.

That is My desire.”

Jayapatākā Swami: Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī is experiencing such mental agitation, that She is begging Lalitā to advise Her what She can do.

4. Tānava, thinness, is described as follows:

When Uddhava returned to Mathurā after visiting Vṛndāvana, Lord Kṛṣṇa inquired from him about Rādhārāṇī and Viśākhā.

Uddhava replied as follows: “Consider the condition of the gopīs!

Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī especially is in a very painful condition because of separation from You.

She has grown skinny, and Her bodily luster is almost gone.

Her heart is immersed in pain, and because She has given up eating, Her breasts have become black, as if diseased.

Because of separation from You, all the gopīs, especially Rādhārāṇī, appear like dried-up water holes under the scorching heat of the sun.”

Jayapatākā Swami: So, Uddhava, He could appreciate how much Rādhārāṇī and the gopīs were absorbed in thoughts of Kṛṣṇa and They were not able to take care of Their bodies, not eating properly, They were completely immersed in separation of Kṛṣṇa.

5. Malina-aṅgatā, uncleanliness, is described as follows:

Uddhava said to Kṛṣṇa, “O most auspicious Kṛṣṇa, please hear me.

The tribulation caused by Your absence has made Viśākhā languid.

Her lips tremble like trees in a strong wind.

Her beautiful face is like a lotus flower that has withered under the snow, and her eyes are like lotus petals scorched by the heat of the autumn sun.”

Jayapatākā Swami: In the pastimes when Kṛṣṇa hears the situation of the gopīs in Vṛndāvana, He also starts crying and feeling great separation for the gopīs.

They have so much love for each other.

6. Pralāpa, mad talking, is explained in the Lalita-mādhava as follows:

This is Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī’s lamentation for Her beloved Kṛṣṇa, who was away from home.

A woman whose husband has left home and gone to a foreign land is called proṣita-bhartṛkā.

Lamenting for Kṛṣṇa in the same way that such a woman laments for her husband, Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī said, “My dear friend, where is the glory of the family of Mahārāja Nanda, who wears a half-moon ornament on His head?

Where is Kṛṣṇa, whose hue is like that of the indranīla jewel and who plays so nicely on His flute?

Where is your friend, the best of all men, so expert in dancing in the circle of the rāsa dance?

Where is He who is the real medicine to save Me from dying of heart disease?

I must condemn Providence, for he has caused Me so many tribulations by separating Me from Kṛṣṇa.”

Jayapatākā Swami: So, all these feelings are being expressed by Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu!

Hare Kṛṣṇa!

7. Vyādhi, disease, is also described in the Lalita-mādhava:

Being greatly afflicted by the pain of separation from Kṛṣṇa, Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī said, “My dear Lalitā, kindly hear Me.

I cannot bear suffering the fever of separation from Kṛṣṇa, nor can I explain it to you.

It is something like gold melting in an earthen box.

This fever produces more distress than poison, and it is more piercing than a thunderbolt.

I suffer exactly like someone almost dead from cholera.

To be giving Me so much pain, this fever must be very strong indeed.”

Jayapatākā Swami: So, having so much attachment to Kṛṣṇa, makes one feel like diseased in His absence.

So this is the deep ecstasy of Rādhārāṇī in Her attachment for Kṛṣṇa.

Lord Caitanya, He wants to understand why Rādhārāṇī has more ecstasy than He does.

So in these ten situations, we get an idea of the very intense love of Rādhārāṇī for Kṛṣṇa.

8. Unmāda, madness, is explained as follows:

Uddhava said to Kṛṣṇa, “My dear Kṛṣṇa, all the gopīs are so afflicted by Your absence that they have become almost mad.

O Murāri, at home Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī laughs unnecessarily and, like a madwoman, inquires about You from every entity without distinction, even from the stones.

She rolls on the ground, unable to bear the agony of Your absence.”

Jayapatākā Swami: Asking about Kṛṣṇa from everything, from stones, trees, anything, rolling on the ground in separation.

So, actually Kṛṣṇa says He can’t leave Vṛndāvana.

Sometimes His pastimes are manifested, prakaṭa, and sometimes, He is invisible; but He is still there, aprakaṭa-līlā.

That He relishes this in one sense, is beyond His comprehension, so He took that mood of Rādhārāṇī and took the pastime of Lord Caitanya, to actually understand firsthand this deep ecstasy that Rādhārāṇī felt for Him.

In this time, sometimes Lord Caitanya would go to the ocean or sometimes go to the gate of the temple in the middle of the night and He would be experiencing these ten situations.

9.Moha, illusion, is explained as follows:

Lalitā wrote Kṛṣṇa the following letter on Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī’s behalf: “My dear Kṛṣṇa, Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī has fallen unconscious on the ground, Her mind greatly agitated by Her separation from You.

O enemy of Kaṁsa, You have now become a first-class politician, and therefore You can supposedly give relief to everyone.

Therefore please consider the plight of Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī, or very soon You will hear of Her death.

Maybe at that time You will lament, although now You are jubilant.”

Jayapatākā Swami: So, Rādhārāṇī’s situation is very lamentable, very extreme and so Lalitā is writing to Kṛṣṇa, please have mercy on Her, come back to Vṛndāvana.

10. Mṛtyu, death, is explained in the Haṁsa-dūta (96):

In the following letter, Lalitā chastised Kṛṣṇa for staying in Mathurā: “Simply by dancing in the circle of the rāsa dance, You attracted Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī’s love.

Why are You now so indifferent to my dear friend Rādhārāṇī? She is lying nearly unconscious, thinking of Your pastimes.

I shall determine whether She is alive by putting a cotton swab under Her nostrils, and if She is still living, I shall chastise Her.”

Jayapatākā Swami: What you call, near death experience! Rādhārāṇī was in such a situation that She was almost dead. She did not die because that would make Kṛṣṇa sad. But we heard that some of the gopīs actually died in separation of Kṛṣṇa. Of course, they would leave the body and they would back to Kṛṣṇaloka. Similarly, Lakṣmīpriyā, the first wife of Lord Caitanya, She, died in separation of Lord Caitanya.

Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Antya-līlā, 14.54

ei daśa-daśāya prabhu vyākula rātri-dine
kabhu kona daśā uṭhe, sthira nahe mane

Translation: Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu was overwhelmed night and day by these ten ecstatic conditions.

Whenever such symptoms arose, His mind became unsteady.

Jayapatākā Swami: So, He would all the time be experiencing one of these ten situations and which one would come when, nobody could predict.

So, this was the intense feeling of love that Lord Caitanya was experiencing in the mood of Rādhārāṇī.

Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Antya-līlā, 14.55

rāyakarttṛka prabhura vipralambha-bhāvopayogi-kālocita ślokapāṭha:—

eta kahi’ mahāprabhu mauna karilā
rāmānanda-rāya śloka paḍite lāgilā

Translation: After speaking in this way, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu fell silent.

Then Rāmānanda Rāya began to recite various verses.

Jayapatākā Swami: Rāmānanda Rāya, when Lord Caitanya was expressing this separation of Kṛṣṇa, then he would chant some verses which gave Lord Caitanya some relief, maybe more deep.

Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Antya-līlā, 14.56

svarūpera tattadbhāvakālīya gānadvārā prabhura cetana-sampādana:—

svarūpa-gosāñi kare kṛṣṇa-līlā gāna
dui jane kichu kailā prabhura bāhya jñāna

Translation: Rāmānanda Rāya recited verses from Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, and Svarūpa Dāmodara Gosvāmī sang of Kṛṣṇa’s pastimes.

In this way, they brought Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu to external consciousness.

Jayapatākā Swami: Lord Caitanya, when He was absorbed in the ecstasy of Rādhārāṇī, He was completely oblivious to the external world.

But Rāmānanda Rāya and Svarūpa Dāmodara by these tactics, they brought Him back to external consciousness.

Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Antya-līlā, 14.57

gṛhamadhye prabhu śāyita:—

ei-mata ardha-rātri kailā niryāpaṇa
bhitara-prakoṣṭhe prabhure karāilā śayana

Translation: After half the night had passed in this way, Rāmānanda Rāya and Svarūpa Dāmodara Gosvāmī made Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu lie down on His bed in the inner room.

Jayapatākā Swami: So, Lord Caitanya was experiencing all these ten symptoms of intense separation of Kṛṣṇa.

But by the verses of Kṛṣṇa’s pastimes, by songs about Kṛṣṇa’s līlās, He felt that Lord Kṛṣṇa had come and then He became peaceful.

Then they got Him to lie down and take some rest.

Thus ends the chapter entitled, The Ten Bodily Transformations Resulting from Separation from Kṛṣṇa
Under the Section: Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu’s Feelings of Separation from Kṛṣṇa